Nominations: Saturday, 4 January 1879, Polling: Friday, 10 January 1879
Candidate
Votes
Votes %
McLean, G R
873
45.28
Watson, James (Re-elected)
1,055
54.72
Formal Votes
1,928
Informal Votes
0
0.00
Total Votes / Turnout
1,928
36.95
Cause Category: Ministerial by-election
Notes: By-election on the formation of the third Parkes ministry.
Source: Source for this result, Yass Courier, nominations 8 January 1879, results 14 January, p.2 col.6 including booth details. The SMH also ran a report of nominations, 7 January 1879, p.6 col.1-4, with incomplete results 11 January, p.5 col.5. A later SMH report 13 January, p.5 col.2 states that Watson won by 173 votes. The Yass Courier report looks like the best available result.